Technology | Media | Telecommunications

Friday, April 26, 2013

Researching the Digital Ecosystem in Latin America

AHCIET and Ovum launched the Observatory of Telecoms Indicators in Latin America. Its objective is to measure and analyze the digital ecosystem as well as identify and quantify the socioeconomic contribution of the telecoms industry to the growth and welfare of the Latin American economy.

In its first study, the AHCIET-Ovum Observatory concludes that telecoms services have increased their impact in Latin America.

Not only have they become increasingly present in the daily lives of millions of Latin Americans who communicate and work using new access technologies; they are also expanding their influence and contribution to the economic development of the countries in the region.

The telecoms sector has had a significant impact on national economies in Latin America between 2008 and 2011, generating growth in fixed (72%) and mobile (41%) Internet connections. At the same time, entry-level tariffs have fallen substantially, enabling new users to join the information society.

Jobs created by the telecommunications industry in Latin America grew significantly. The number of workers employed by telecoms operators has increased by nearly 60 percent, reaching a level close to a quarter of a million workers. The number of workers in the sector has more than doubled in Brazil and Nicaragua, and almost doubled in Guatemala.

Meanwhile, capital investment by telecoms companies has increased by more than 28 percent as telcos focus on the deployment of access infrastructure to meet demand for services and digital inclusion.

Although the global recession that emerged in 2008 forced many companies to moderate their levels of spending in 2009, growing demand for fixed and mobile broadband has fueled continued strong investment. Capital expenditure by telecoms companies in eight countries included in the Observatory grew by an average of 28 percent to more than $22 trillion in 2011.

This increased contribution of telecoms to national economies is helping to bridge the digital divide.

The Observatory provides analysis of regional and national growth trends, investment and industry financials and covers 15 countries in Latin America over the four year period from 2008 to 2011. It will periodically deliver reliable and relevant indicators for governments, regulators, enterprises, international organizations and academia.

Richard Mahony, telecoms research director at Ovum, said "The Observatory is a valuable resource as it provides the industry with the most detailed picture of the evolving Latin America telecoms market. We look forward to further co-operation with AHCIET as the partnership supports Ovum’s ongoing research on the development of telecoms in the region."